The Franciscan Vocation
The Franciscan Vocation
This is how God inspired me, Brother Francis, to embark upon a life of penance. When I was in sin, the sight of lepers nauseated me beyond measure; but then God himself led me into their company, and I had pity on them. When I had once become acquainted with them, what had previously nauseated me became a source of spiritual and physical consolation for me. After that I did not wait long before leaving the world.....When God gave me some friars, there was no one to tell me what I should do; but the Most High himself made it clear to me that I must live the life of the Gospel.
St. Francis wrote his Testament shortly before his death in 1226. In this document he talked about his personal vocation and how that evolved into the vocation for an Order of Friars.
The Vocation to the Religious Life involves both the personal, individual call and the corporate life of the community. At the heart of Francis' personal vocation was the call to a closer relationship with God. Francis yearned passionately to know Jesus and to be with his God. The stigmata, in which Francis exhibited the wounds of Jesus, illustrates the close identification he attained with Christ. It was his intention to live the Gospel life, as he understood it.
For Francis this meant being sent out as an apostle to preach the good news and to heal. It meant to imitate the poverty, simplicity, humility and compassion he saw in the life of Jesus. When his personal charisma began to attract followers and "God gave him brothers," Francis and his community had to find a corporate expression of Francis' vocation. They developed a community life which attempted to live out Francis' vision of the Gospel life with the addition of fraternal charity.
Kinds of Franciscan Vocation
There are many kinds of Franciscans found in many denominations. Within the Anglican Communion, the largest group of Franciscans is The Society of St. Francis.
Under the umbrella of The Society of St. Francis, you will find The First Order Sisters and Brothers. The First Order Sisters consists of The Community of St. Francis. Our CSF Sisters may be found not only in San Francisco, but also several places in the United Kingdom and in South Korea. The First Order Brothers are the Brothers of the Society of St. Francis who may be found in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in the Pacific. The First Order Brothers and Sisters live in community under the three traditional vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. (Note: the term “First Order” used in the Anglican context is different from the usage in the Roman Catholic Church in which the First Order only refers to the Brothers who are Friars Minor).
The Community of St. Clare constitutes the Second Order of the Society of St. Francis. These Poor Clare Nuns live in a monastery in Oxford, England, and devote their lives to prayer and work within the monastery enclosure.
The Third Order of the Society of St. Francis is made up of men, women, lay, ordained, who live out their Franciscan vocation in their families and in the world.
The Associates of The Society of St. Francis are called SSF Companions. These are a diverse group of people called to the Franciscan life in their personal contexts, each of whom lives a personal Rule based on Franciscan principles. The Associates of The Society of St. Francis are called SSF Companions. These are a diverse group of people called to the Franciscan life in their personal contexts, each of whom lives a personal Rule based on Franciscan principles.
What is the Religious Life?
The common concern of all “Religious” (the technical term for monks, nuns, friars, sisters and brothers) is religion. Just as an artist must paint, and a writer must write, the Religious pursues the relationship with God in an all-consuming way.
Become a CSF Sister
Entrance into the Religious Life is a gradual process of mutual discernment between the individual and the community, study and formation and “on-job-training.”
Become an Associate
Perhaps God is leading you to follow the little poor man of Assisi in order that your love for God and creation may grow. in companionship with other Franciscan-minded folks. Become an SSF Companion.